Overview

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If you have a great passion for cooking and the drive to pursue your goal as a professional cook, food entrepreneur, and more, there is no better time to start a career in this thriving landscape. This program provides strong culinary foundations training with a hands-on externship.

Students can acquire intensive professional and practical experience with culinary preparations and operation of a professional kitchen. Leveraging both online and hands-on culinary training, this program delivers a far more flexible as well as affordable format than traditional cooking schools. By learning basic cooking theory and techniques with an online curriculum on their own time, students can then put their skills into practice in each scheduled live class meeting, which takes place in a professional kitchen alongside experienced chefs.

Who Should Attend

First-time cooks seeking to start a career as a professional cook

Entrepreneurs wishing to acquire foundational cooking techniques to help launch a culinary business

Course Schedule

While we can accept enrollment up to the start date of the course, we strongly encourage students to register no later than 10/16 so that their uniform and kitchen supplies can be timely delivered. For an optimal learning experience, space is limited to 15 students, first-come, first-served. Payment plan information is available upon request.

As a first-time offering, the program has been specially priced. Due to the costs associated with ensuring quality culinary training, we anticipate the program fee to increase significantly in 2019. If you are interested in enrolling in our program, we encourage you to join us this fall to take advantage of the special pricing.

Course #

Title

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

MISC
815.01

Professional Culinary FoundationsThis course focuses on foundational and fundamental skills development and reinforcement; universal and widely adopted methods and techniques of cooking as well as recipes and activities that reinforce the same principles taught in professional culinary schools around the world. This comprehensive blended online, lab and externship course covers a full basic professional cooking school curriculum including, but not limited to: kitchen and food safety, knife skills, moist- and dry-heat cooking methods, seasoning, culinary nutrition, basic breads and baking, salads and dressings, and pastry basics.

With an intuitive online learning platform, and under the tutelage of professional working chefs, you will engage in lectures and demonstrations, acquire hands-on experience in our training kitchen and, through discipline and practice, develop cooking skills that encompass everything from simple techniques to more difficult and complex preparations.

Certificate of Completion

Upon the successful completion of all course requirements, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from UCI's Division of Continuing Education.

Where do trained chefs work?

Trained cooks are in demand in both the hospitality and tourism industries. Employment in the foodservice area is growing and will continue to grow. Some career possibilities include positions in restaurants, clubs, bakeries, hotels and institutions. There are many different kinds of foodservice organizations and, as a result, position titles vary.

Examples of position titles (depending on experience, education and other factors):

Chef de Cuisine

Chef de Partie

Sous Chef

Executive Chef

Line or Prep Cook

Caterer

Food Buyer

Food Stylist

Food & Beverage Director

Expediter

Assistant Cook

Research & Development Chef

Food Journalist

Food Critic or Blogger

Professional Kitchen

Our program highlights a professional training kitchen. The facility enables students to gain familiarity with the fast-paced environment and diverse tools of a working kitchen.

On-site Training Available

Our Corporate Training specialists can deliver this program or customize one that fits your organization’s specific needs. Visit Corporate Training or call (949) 824-1847 for information.

English Proficiency Requirement
All certificate programs at UCI Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require
professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading
comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.